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Effect of mobile cation on zeolite-polyamide thin film nanocomposite membranes

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Abstract

Hybrid zeolite-polyamide thin film nanocomposite (TFN) reverse osmosis membranes were synthesized by incorporating Linde type A (LTA)-type zeolite molecular sieve nanocrystals in the interfacial polymerization reaction used to form polyamide thin films. Nanocrystals were prepared with two different mobile cations (Na+ and Ag+) exchanged within the LTA crystal matrix. Incorporation of molecular sieve nanocrystals into polyamide thin films during interfacial polymerization was verified by infrared spectroscopy. Both TFN membranes exhibited higher water permeability, while maintaining similar salt rejection to pure polyamide thin film composite membranes. Nanocomposite thin films containing LTA nanocrystals in the silver form (AgA) produced a greater increase in water permeability than those in the sodium form (NaA). Furthermore, AgA-TFN membranes exhibited more hydrophilic and smooth interfaces, which appeared to inhibit adhesion of bacteria cells onto the membranes. The AgA nanocrystals exhibited significant bactericidal activity; however, when encapsulated within polyamide thin films the antimicrobial activity was significantly reduced.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California—Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA

    Mary Laura Lind, Byeong-Heon Jeong, Arun Subramani, Xiaofei Huang & Eric M. V. Hoek

  2. Hyundai & Kia Motors, 104 Mabuk-Dong, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 446-912, Korea

    Byeong-Heon Jeong

  3. MWH, 618 Michillinda Avenue, Suite 200, Arcadia, CA, 91007, USA

    Arun Subramani

Authors
  1. Mary Laura Lind
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  2. Byeong-Heon Jeong
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  3. Arun Subramani
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  4. Xiaofei Huang
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  5. Eric M. V. Hoek
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric M. V. Hoek.

Additional information

Articles in this section are based on presentations that were selected by MRS Meeting Symposium Organizers as outstanding papers. Upon selection, authors are invited to submit their research results to Journal of Materials Research. These papers are subject to the same peer review and editorial standards as all other JMR papers. This is another way by which the Materials Research Society recognizes high quality papers presented at its meetings.

This paper was selected as an Outstanding Symposium Paper for the 2007 MRS Fall Meeting, Symposium V.

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Lind, M.L., Jeong, BH., Subramani, A. et al. Effect of mobile cation on zeolite-polyamide thin film nanocomposite membranes. Journal of Materials Research 24, 1624–1631 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0189

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0189

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